EP1547873B1 - Rollover protective system for cars with a movable rolloverbody - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rollover protection system for motor vehicles, with a movably held in a vehicle-fixed guide rollover roll body which is durable in the normal state against the force of at least one biased drive compression spring by a holding device in a lower, retracted rest position, and releasing the holding device by the spring force of the drive compression spring in a locked upper, protective position can be brought, wherein the holding device has a holding member connected to the rollover body and thus standing in releasable mechanical operative connection release member on a vehicle-mounted, sensor-controlled pyrotechnic actuator.

Such rollover protection systems are used to protect the occupants in motor vehicles without protective roof, typically in convertibles or sports cars in a rollover, since the vehicle will roll over the rollover body.

It is known to provide a full vehicle width spanning, permanently installed roll bar. In this solution, the increased air resistance and the occurrence of driving noise is perceived as disadvantageous, apart from the impairment of the vehicle appearance.

It is also known to assign each vehicle seat a höhenunveränderlich permanently installed roll bar. This solution is typically used on sports cars to underline the sporty appearance.

Widely used in convertibles are constructive solutions in which the Überroiikörper is retracted in the normal state, and in case of danger, so in an impending rollover, is quickly extended to a protective position to prevent the vehicle occupants are crushed by the overturning vehicle.

From such a movable Überrotikörper also goes from the invention.

These rollover protection systems typically have a guided in a vehicle-fixed guide body U-shaped or formed from a profile body rollover body, wherein the guide body is mounted in a cassette housing. This rollover body is held in the normal state against the biasing force of a drive compression spring by a holding device in a lower rest position, and is in the rollover case, sensor controlled releasing the holding device, by the spring force of the drive compression spring in an upper, protective position can be brought, wherein a engaged locking device, the re-entry lock, prevents the rollover bar from being pushed in. In this case, each vehicle seat is typically associated with a cassette, in particular in the front vehicle seats. In the rear, the cassettes can also be integrated in a rear wall unit.

Such a cassette construction of a roll bar protection system with a U-shaped roll bar shows, for example, the DE 43 42 400 A 1; an alternative cassette construction with a rollover body in the form of a profile body shows in particular the DE 198 38 989 C1 ,

The aforementioned holding device for the extendable rollover body typically has a holding member attached to the rollover body, which is in detachable mechanical operative connection with a trigger member on a vehicle-mounted, sensor-controlled release system, the actuator, by a trigger magnet, the so-called crash magnets, or by a pyrotechnic trigger member, is formed. The holding member is in many constructions, eg according to DE 100 12 573 C1 formed as a retaining bolt, which is connected, for example via a rocker or other tolerance compensating, connecting element with the rollover body, and with a trigger member forming the pawl of the actuator, preferably a double pawl actuator after DE 197 50 693 C1 , is in releasable operative engagement.

In such a latch-holding system not only the frictional resistance between the pawl and retaining bolts, but also frictional forces within the trigger member of the actuator must be overcome to trigger the rollover body. Furthermore, there is a risk of Rückverriegelns in latch systems due to type. In addition, the known holding device is relatively complex, in particular as regards the construction of the holding member and the trigger member with actuator, so that this holding device is used to a special extent in vehicles of the upper classes.

From the DE 199 60 764 A1 a rollover bar for motor vehicles has become known, in which the extension - unlike the rollover protection system according to the invention - is effected by a pyrotechnic drive, which is also used to release the holding device. In this case, a mechanical locking member is deformed or displaced against an elastic restoring force and released the drive piston for the extension of the roll bar. Apart from the dual function of the pyrotechnic drive goes the known device does not go beyond what is known for pyrotechnic release members. Mechanical locking members must be deformed or displaced by overcoming restoring and frictional forces to release the roll bar for deployment.

The DE 102 03 710 C1 relates to a pyrotechnic actuator with a piston as an actuator, as he has long been known as a trigger member for the release of a roll bar. In this case, the disadvantages described above occur.

This also applies to the from the EP 1 162 333 A1 known pyrotechnic drive, which serves to release a securing bolt.

In addition to the pyrotechnic actuators, pyrotechnic separating elements have also been described with which, inter alia, screw connections can be destroyed or broken through predetermined breaking points under predetermined conditions. From the EP 1 443 296 A1 a pyrotechnic separating element with a housing and an inserted into the housing latch bolt has become known, wherein the housing a first attachment point and the latch bolt a second attachment point are arranged and the latch bolt is anchored via a locking and force limiting element on the housing. The pyrotechnic separating element is installed in a pipe clamp, which should be solved if necessary.

The invention has the object of developing the holding device of a rollover protection system so that it can be dispensed with pawls and corresponding release devices and that in a structurally simple way a secure holding and release can be guaranteed.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that in a rollover protection system of the type mentioned, the trigger member is formed with the associated pyrotechnic trip unit by a self-contained, self-disintegrating when releasing pyromechanical separator consisting of two combined parts, of which the first Part contains an electrically ignitable pyrotechnic propellant charge, and of which the second part via a locking ring frictionally and form-fitting releasably connected to the first part is in communication, one part is fixed to the vehicle and the other part is firmly connected to the support member.

In the holding system according to the invention, the holding down of the rollover body takes place directly, i. without intermediate links such as pawls, etc., by using a pyrotechnic isolating element designed so that the driving compression spring can be securely held taut under all normal operating conditions of the motor vehicle, but in the activation case, d. H. under the influence of the pressure development of the pyrotechnic trigger member, a release of the holder takes place and the rollover body can extend into the protective position. To trigger only the positive and positive connection between the locking ring and the vehicle-fixed part of the separating element must be overcome. In such a separation element a locking back as in latch systems is absolutely impossible.

Embodiments and developments of the invention are characterized in dependent claims and emerge from the description of the figures.

Reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the invention will be described in more detail.

Fig. 1

in einer schematisierten Längsschnitt-Darstellung den Aufbau eines an sich bekannten Kassetten-Überrollschutzsystems mit aufstellbarem Überrollkörper und der erfindungsgemäßen Haltevorrichtung zum lösbaren Niederhalten des Überrollkörpers gegen die Vorspannkraft einer Antriebs-Druckfeder im Grundzustand,

Fig. 2

in einer isometrischen Darstellung das Überrollschutzsystem nach Fig. 1, ebenfalls im gespannten Grundzustand, und

Fig. 3

in zwei Figurenteilen A, B jeweils in einer Ausschnitt-Darstellung aus Fig. 1 den näheren Aufbau der erfindungsgemäßen Haltevorrichtung in zwei Betriebszuständen, mit dem gespannten Grundzustand im Figurenteil A und dem ausgelösten Zustand im Figurenteil B.

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the structure of a known cassette rollover protection system with deployable rollover body and the holding device according to the invention for releasably holding down the rollover body against the biasing force of a drive compression spring in the ground state,

Fig. 2

in an isometric view of the rollover protection system Fig. 1 , also in the tensed ground state, and

Fig. 3

in two parts of a piece A, B in each case in a cutout representation Fig. 1 the closer structure of the holding device according to the invention in two operating states, with the tense ground state in the figure part A and the tripped state in the figure part B.

The Figures 1 - 3 show in various views and operating conditions a rollover protection system for vehicles, with a rollover body 1 in the form of a broad profile body, which is recorded in a vehicle-fixed, cash-shaped guide consisting of a, the profile body of the rollover body form-fitting embracing guide block 2 and side rails 3, wherein guide members 4 are laterally mounted on the rollover body for guidance in the profile rails 3. On the profile body of the rollover body 1 is a head roll 5, which also consists of a profile body attached. This roll-over head 5 is preferably designed so that it is deformable according to a predetermined path / force diagram to the first directly after a rollover occurring peak load by a targeted Deformation work, ie not to initiate the system.

In the guide block 2 is on the narrow sides in each case a spring-loaded, linearly transversely to the erection of the rollover body 1 movable locking member 6 is mounted, which can be brought in each case set rollover body 1 in blocking operative connection with associated toothed segments 7 in the lower part of the rolling body. These locking elements 6 and 7 form the above-mentioned re-entry lock, i. Prevent that in a rollover of the erected rollover body is pressed. However, not shown means allow manual unlocking to manually reverse the rollover body after an accidental release. To set up the rollover body 1 is a centrally disposed drive compression spring 8, which surrounds a spring guide pin 9 concentrically and outside of a vehicle-fixed pipe 9 b is surrounded. The drive compression spring 8 is supported on a circumferential shoulder of the head-side end 9 a of the spring guide pin 9.

In the ground state ( FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3A ) is the rollover body 1 by a releasable holding device, which consists of a connected to the rollover body holding member and a pyrotechnic actuator with trigger member against the biased drive compression spring 8, releasably held down, as will be described in more detail below.

The cassette rollover protection system described so far is known in principle, for example by the cited above DE 198 38 989 C1 , The invention relates to the novel design of the holding device.

The pyrotechnic trip unit with trigger member of the holding device according to the invention consists of a per se known pyromechanical separating element 10, which is composed of two cylindrical parts 10 a and 10 b. The first part 10 a is formed as a hollow cylinder and together with the enveloping the drive compression spring tube 9 b with a rotationally symmetrical attachment member 11 fixed to the vehicle at the bottom 12 of the cassette mounted on the mounting member and the drive compression spring 8 is supported. The first part takes on a so-called squib 13 electrically ignitable pyrotechnic propellant 14. About a locking ring 15 and a complementary groove 16 in the hollow cylindrical first part 10 a, the second, formed as a solid cylinder part 10 b is further removably received in the first hollow cylindrical part 10 a. The locking ring 15 typically consists of an O-ring which is inserted in a corresponding circumferential groove of the second part 10 b. The design and arrangement of the locking ring 15 is made such that it 8 due to the prestressed drive compression spring holding forces in the range of 200 - 500 N safely absorbs.

The support member is formed in the illustrated embodiment by the spring guide pin 9, the head side hinged at point 9 c on the rollover body 1 and the bottom side anchored in the second part 10 b of the separator 10, for example by a screw, with a threaded bolt portion 9 d on the spring guide pin and a sack threaded hole 17 in the head of the second partition member 10 b. In the initial state of the spring guide pin 9 = holding member, and thus the rollover body 1, held down against the force of the prestressed compression spring 8. The rollover protection system is taut ( Fig. 1 - 3A ).

If the pyrotechnic propellant 14 is ignited electrically via the squib 13 in the event of an imminent rollover, it generates a powerful pressure pulse, which is the upper part of the divider element 10 b separated from the lower partition member part 10 a. The drive compression spring can then extend the holding member 9 with the rollover body 1, as shown in the figure part 3 A.

It is understood that the invention can also be applied to a rollover protection system other than the one shown, in particular with a different holding member, another rollover body and other guides of the rollover body. It is always essential that either the propellant-containing first partition element part 10 a is mounted fixed to the vehicle, and the ejectable second partition element part 10 b is firmly connected to the holding member, or vice versa.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Rollover body

2

guide block

3

Side profile rails

4

guide members

5

Roll head

6

locking member

7

toothed segment

8th

Driving compression spring

9

Spring guide pin + retaining element

9 a

shoulder

9 b

outer tube

9 c

articulation

9 d

threaded bolt

10

separating element

10 a

first partition element part

10 b

second separating element part

11

attachment member

12

Cassette floor

13

squib

14

pyrotechnic propellant

15

Restraining

16

groove

17

Threaded blind hole

Claims (7)

1. A roll-over protection system for motor vehicles, comprising a roll-over body (1) which is displaceably mounted in a guide (2, 3) fixed to the vehicle and which, in the normal state, is holdable in a lower, retracted, rest position by a holding device against the force of at least one biassed driving compression spring (8), and is movable into a locked, upper, protecting position by the spring force of the driving compression spring upon release of the holding device, wherein the holding device comprises a holding member connected to the roll-over body, and a sensor-controlled, pyrotechnic release unit which is provided with a release member, is fixed to the vehicle and is detachably mechanically connected to the holding member, characterised in that the release member with the associated pyrotechnic release unit is formed by a pyromechanical separating component (10) consisting of two pyrotechnically separable parts which are mechanically joined together to form a closed, separate, structural component and of which the first part (10a) contains an electrically ignitable pyrotechnic propellant charge (12, 13), and the second part (10b) is detachably connected to the first part (10a) in an interference- and form-fitting manner by a retaining ring (15), wherein the one part is fixed to the vehicle and the other part is fixedly connected to the holding member.
2. A roll-over protection system according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining ring (15) is formed from an O ring.
3. A roll-over protection system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the retaining ring (15) is designed so that it reliably absorbs holding forces which are exerted by the biassed driving compression spring (8) and lie in the range from 100-1500 N, preferably 200-700 N.
4. A roll-over protection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the holding member is formed by a tie rod (9) which is connected at one end to the roll-over body (1) and at the other end to the head of the second part (10b) of the separating component (10).
5. A roll-over protection system according to claim 4, characterised in that the tie rod (9) is simultaneously formed as a spring guiding bolt for the driving compression spring (8).
6. A roll-over protection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, with a cassette-type guide fixed to the vehicle, characterised in that the roll-over body (1) is formed by a profiled body which is the width of the cassette and which on the one hand is guided in an upper guide block (2) and on the other hand is guided in elongate profiled rails (3) mounted on the opposing narrow sides of the cassette.
7. A roll-over protection system according to claim 6, characterised in that, on at least one narrow side of the cassette and on the associated narrow side of the roll-over body (1), a respective locking member (6, 7) for locking the raised roll-over body (1) is provided.

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